In a city thats 22 miles long, there seems to be common threads from one end to the other and some unique characteristics in each barrio.
The neighborhood Im staying in, La Mariscal, is home to La Floresta, so named because of the many flower stores. On our walk to school, the bins are full of flowers and it is a pleasant break from all of the traffic exhaust. On the walk home, the bins are nearly empty with only a few unpicked bunches left. One of Ecuadors main exports is flowers. Valentines Day is a big deal here because of the number of roses they export.
Another part of La Mariscal is what is referred to as gringolandia. Its full of bars and restaurants, places to drop your laundry, and tour companies. Its almost like being in downtown Ann Arbor close to campus. It has that sort of party part-time feel. The restaurants cater to the touristas with menus in English and listings of drink specials facing the street.
The day I took the Red Hop on-Hop off Bus Tour, one of the parts of town had imprenta printers. I couldnt see in, though they all looked pretty small. I think this was in the Puerto Rico barrio. On another street, there was shop after shop (right next door to each other) with tile and plumbing supplies. Another part of town had garage after garage housing car mechanics.
My Spanish teacher this week, Adreana, told me about the neighborhood in which she lives. She says there are factories there. One that makes Coca-cola, one that makes flour, and a big printer that prints periodicals, which I think means the newspaper.
In every street and every neighborhood there are internet and phone places. Often the sign reads cabinas. Inside it looks a little like the old fashioned telephone booths where people make phone calls either within the country or overseas. And, it seems, on every block there is a small place to eat. Theres no end to places serving desayuner (breakfast) and almurzar (lunch). Most are small, some with just a couple of tables, some with just a counter for take away. There are what we might call party stores selling chips and pop, places that sell fruits, and, of course, pastry shops. Theres a pastry place right on the corner not 20 steps from Hipatias building that Ive been in more than once!